2. Introduction
• France has always been considered the heart land of
the wines of the World. It has traditionally been know
as the best Wine producing Region of the world.
• France is also the largest wine producing country of
the world
3. Wine laws of France
• The Wine laws in France are controlled by INAO
( Institue Nationale des Appellation d’ Origine )
• Classification of the Wines:
AOC- Appellation d’ Origine Controlee 1935
– This classification is given to the best wines of France
– The government guarantees the place ( district or a Chateau ),
name, grape of the Wine, and that it has been made according
to the growing and making standards specified by the
Government.
4. VDQS – Vin de limite de Qualite Superior
– Better Quality of wine from a specific region. Taste tests
were introduced to determine the quality of the Wine.
VIN DE PAYS
– Country Wines, guarantees that wine comes from the
specified area, from the permitted grape, but gives the wine
maker the freedom to make the wine as he sees fit
VIN DE TABLE
– These are ordinary table Wines, made with some degree of
quality and could be a Blend of other wines.
Wine laws of France
8. BORDEAUX
• Bordeaux is the Largest Wine producing region of
France
• The river GIRANDE flows through Bordeaux, its 2
estuaries GARONNE & DORDOGNE are
responsible for the Terrior of this region
• 80% of the Wines produced in Bordeaux are
Red.
9. BORDEAUX
CLIMATE & SOIL
• Bordeaux has Mild winters and Warm summers. The
soil is mainly pebbly, not very fertile but very rich in
minerals.
GRAPES
• Red – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,
Malbec & Petit Verdot
• White – Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
• Bordeaux Red wines are usually delicate, Light
bodied, mostly Dry. They are popularly know as
CLARETS.
10. • WHAT MAKES GREAT BORDEAUX
REDS
– Soil
– Good grape variety
– Right balance of sugar and acid
– Careful vinification, fermentation temperature and wines
used for blending
– Bottling at the right time ( 18 – 24 months after
fermentation )
BORDEAUX
11. Main Wine producing districts of Burgundy :
• Medoc
– Haut Medoc
– Bas Medoc
• Graves
• Sauternes
• St. Emilion
• Pomerol
BORDEAUX
14. Districts of Bordeaux
MEDOC
• Medoc Reds are medium bodied wines, they require
longer maturation because they are higher in tannins.
• Medoc is divided into 2 Sub- Districts:
– Haut Medoc and Bas Medoc
• Haut Medoc produce better wines. Some quality
Chateau’s
– Margaux
– Paulliac
– St. Julien
– St. Estephe.
15. • In 1855 Medoc was divided into 70 best properties or
Chateau. Some of the best Chateau’s of Medoc are :
– Chateau Lafit Rothschild
– Chateau Latour
– Chateau Margaux
– Chateau Mouton Rothschild ( 1973 )
Pauillac
Pauillac
Margaux
Pauillac
Districts of Bordeaux
16. GRAVES
• Graves soil is predominantly GRAVEL.
• Graves produces good quality Dry White wines and
Excellent light Red wines.
• Premier / Grand Cru – Chateau Haut Brion
• The Grave White range from Sweet to Extremely Dry.
Some of the grave wines are labeled as Superior, this
just means that they have higher alcoholic %.
Districts of Bordeaux
17. SAUTERNES
• This region is very famous for its Sweet white wines.
The grape used for production is SEMILLON.
• The most famous wine from this region is Chateau
d’yquem.
St. EMILION
• This region only produces Red wine. The grape used
for production is MERLOT.
• The quality of wine produced is re-assessed every 10
yrs.
Districts of Bordeaux
18. POMEROL
• Mainly produces Red wines.
• The wines are more tannic in nature and have to be
aged longer.
• The wines are more robust and full bodied and are
sometimes referred to as Burgundies of
Bordeaux.
• The main grape used for production is MERLOT &
CABERNET FRANC.
• Produces the most expensive wine of the world in
good vintage year from CHATEAU PETRUS.
Districts of Bordeaux
19. • Some Great wines of Bordeaux are :
– Chateau Haut-Brion
– Chateau Lafit Rothschild
– Chateau Latour
– Chateau Margaux
– Chateau Mouton Rothschild ( 1973 )
– Chateau D’Yquem
– Chateau Petrus
– Chateau Cheval Blanc
– Chateau Ausone
Graves
Pauillac
Pauillac
Margaux
Pauillac
Sauternes
Pomerol
St. Emilion
St. Emilion
BORDEAUX
21. • Burgundy is a narrow strip of Land along the river
SAONE. This region is about 75 miles long in the
Middle of Eastern France.
• Burgundy Reds are very Robust and Full bodied and the
Whites are refined and distinguished. The White wine
are mostly Dry.
• The Main Grape Varieties :
– Red Grapes : Pinot Noir ( Cote d’ Or and Chalonnais )
Gamay ( Maconnais and Beaujolais )
– White Grapes : Chardonnay ( Chablis and Maconnais )
Aligote
BURGUNDY
22. Climate :
• The Region has very harsh, severe and mild winters. The
summers are sometimes very hot and sometimes
unpredictable.
• In Burgundy the Grapes are picked before they have ripened
because of the severe winters. This results in Grapes being
higher in Acid and less Sugar content.
• The resulting Grape juice from these grapes lacks the desired
sugar content. To increase the sugar levels in the juice
CHAPTALISATION is done. ( Chaptalisation is the
addition of sugar to Grape juice).
BURGUNDY
23. Main Wine producing regions of Burgundy :
• Cote d’ Or
• Chalonnaise
• Maconnais
• Beaujolais
• Chablis
BURGUNDY
26. COTE D’ OR
• Literally translated Cote d’ Or means Golden Hills.
It produces good quality Red and White wines.
• Grapes used for the production of Wines:
– Red Wines – Pinot Noir
– White Wines - Chardonnay
Districts of Burgundy
27. COTE D’ OR
It is further divided into two regions :
• Cote de Nuits
– This region has Chalk and clay as soil composition. This
region is better know for its Red wines.
– Gevery Chambertain, Musigny, Vougeot, Romanee-
conti.
• Cote de Beaune
– This region has Clay, Chalk and Marl as soil composition.
This region produces good quality White wines.
– Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet
Districts of Burgundy
28. CHALONNAISE
• This region produces a range of Red, White and
Sparkling Wines.
• Grapes used for the production of Wines :
– Red Wines – Pinot Noir and Gamay
– White Wines – Chardonnay & Aligote
• This region produces fragrant full bodied Red wines
and crisp white wines.
• Better known wines of this region are:
– Givery, Mercury, Rully, Bouzeron & Montagny.
Districts of Burgundy
29. MACONNAIS
• The most famous wine from is region is Pouilly
Fuisse, one of the Worlds best Chardonnay Whites.
• Grapes used for the production of Wines:
– Red Wines – Gamay
– White Wines – Chardonnay
• Some of the better known wines of the region are:
– Macon, Pouilly Fuisse, Pouilly Vinzelle and St. Veran.
Districts of Burgundy
30. BEAUJOLAIS
• Grapes used for the production of Wines:
– Red Wines – Gamay
– White Wines – Chardonnay
• The fermentation in this region is done through CARBONIC
MACERATION ( fermentation is done without the pressing
of Grapes ). This results in wines being fresh and fruity. The
BEAJOULAISE NOUVEAU is made by this method. These
wines have lesser shelf life and are best had chilled.
• The wines from this region are light, fresh and delicate and
are sometimes called the Bordeaux’s of Burgundy.
Districts of Burgundy
31. BEAUJOLAIS
Beaujolais “Cru” Villages:
•
• These are the best know villages and produce the best wines
in the region.
– Bouilly
– Cote de Bouilly
– Chenas
– Chirobule
– Fleurie
– Julienas
– Moulin a vent
– St. Amour
– Morgon
Districts of Burgundy
32. CHABLIS
• One of the Worlds best white wine producing
region. The White wines are of great quality and
finesse.
• This region uses CHARDONNAY. Nowhere else in
the world does Chardonnay achieve such greatness.
Chardonnay produces very dry wines.
• The soil type is mainly Limestone and Chalk.
Districts of Burgundy
33. CHABLIS
• The Appellation divides Chablis into Four categories:
– Chablis Grand Cru – It consists of 7 Climats, which produce the
best wines in this region.
– Chablis Premier Cru – These are fine wines and take their names
from 27 villages.
– AC Chablis – The basic appellation and the best of the rest of the
wines. These wines are good value for money.
– Petit Chablis – Harvested from an area which is entitled for this
classification. These wines should be consumed as young and fresh as
possible.
– Some well know Grand Cru wines :
Les Clos, Le Pruese, Blanchots, Bougros.
Districts of Burgundy
37. Cote du Rhone
• The region is situated around the River Rhone. This is
one of the Oldest wine producing region of France.
• This region produces the best Rose wines of France
TAVEL & LIRAC. This region also produces the
World Famous Chateauneuf du pape.
• The climate of this region is warm and steady, thus,
resulting in consistent wines. The wines have stability
and good keeping quality, they have distinctive
character and favour.
38. Cote du Rhone
Northern Rhone
• The soil in this region is predominantly GRANITE.
• Grapes used are:
– Red Wines – Syrah
– White Wines - Voigner
• Better known wines of this region are:
– Hermitage & Cote Roti ( Red & White )
– Condrieu ( W )
– Chateau Grillet ( W )
39. Cote du Rhone
Southern Rhone
• The soil in this region is predominantly CHALK
• Grapes used are :
– Red Wines – Grenache
– White Wines – Ugni Blanc & Clairette
• Better know wines of this region are:
– Chateau neuf du pape ( Popes new house )
– Cote du Rhone
– Tavel & Lirac
– This region also produces a very good sweet wine called
MUSCAT DE BEAUME DE VENICE
43. Loire valley
• This region is situated on the most Majestic river of
France.
• The region produces Crisp White wines, Golden Sweet
dessert wines and some fine Sparkling wines. This
region is also well known for its fine Rose wines.
• Grapes used for making wines:
– Red Wines – Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
– White Wines – Muscadella
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
44. Loire valley
•Districts of Loire :
• NANTES
• The grape used in this district is MUSCADELLA. It
produces a fine wine called MUCADET it is a very
light acidic White wine.
45. Loire valley
ANJOU – SAUMUR
• The grape used in this district is Chenin Blanc and
Cabernet Franc. It produces good quality Red, White,
Rose and Sparkling wines.
• Anjou is famous for Red, White, Rose and Sparkling
wines.
• Saumur is famous for dry and sweet Red, White, Rose
and Sparkling wines.
46. Loire valley
TOURAINE
known wines from this region are
( Dry and Sweet White Wines ) &
• The better
VOUVRAY
CHINON.
• This region also produce a well known sparkling wine
called VOUVRAY MOUSSEAUX ( This wine is made
by Method Champanoise )
CENTRAL VINEYARDS
• The grape used for the production of wines is
SAUVIGNON BLANC. This region produces the
world famous Dry White wines POUILLY FUME &
SANCERRE.
49. Alsace
• This wine region of France borders Germany,
because of which most of the Wines are very close
to the wines of Germany. This region is situated on
the VOSGES MOUNTAINS and is separated
from BADEN by River Rhine.
• The region has hot summers and Cold winter. The
Autumn is Dry, Sunny and long.
50. Alsace
Main Grape variety:
White wines : Gewurztraminer ( Gewurz means SPICY )
Pinot Blanc
Muscat d’Alsace
Tokay d’Alsace
Riesling
Sylvaner
• The region is popular for Sweet White wines. The wine
is bottled in tall bottles called “ Flute d’Alsace “
53. Champagne
• This region is to the North of France.
• Champagne produces the best sparkling wine of the
world
• The name CHAMPAGNE and METHODE
CHAMPENOISE are protected by law and can only
apply to the wines made in the region of Champagne
• This applies to all countries without exception
54. Champagne
• The vineyards of Champagne are divided into
three main districts :
– Montagne de Reims ( The Reims mountains )
– Vallee de la Marne ( The Marne valley )
– Cote des blancs ( The white hills )
55. Champagne
Main Grape variety:
• Montagne de Reims ( The Reims mountains )
– PINOT NOIR
• Vallee de la Marne ( The Marne valley )
– PINOT NOIR & PINOT MEUNIER
• Cote des blancs ( The white hills )
– CHARDONNAY
56. Champagne
Types of Champagne :
• BLANC DE BLANC ( White wine from white grapes )
• Chardonnay
• BLANC DE NOIR ( White wine from black grapes )
• Pinot Meunier
